Truck for transporting concrete



April 29,1930. E N JONES. 1,756,091

TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Filed July 14, 1928 ,3 Sheets-Shee t l INVENTOR Edward N'J'ons WMEZWW ATTORNEY April 29, 1930. E. N. JONES 1,756,091

TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Filed July 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR :11;". Ial m N'Jcmes ATTORNEY April 29, 1930. E; N. JONES 1,756,091

TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Filed July 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGJO.

F'IG.S

INVENTOR I Edward N. Jones wizialn 29. WW

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1930 nirao STTES PATENT: OFFICE EDWARD N. JONES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE C. O. BART- LETT & SNOW COMPANY, :5 CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TRUCK FOR TBANSPOR'IING CONCRETE Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to a vehicular body for transporting and unloading wet concrete, and particularly to a body of this nature which is readily convertible for use in trans porting other materials such as sand, gravel,

coal, and the like.

Durin recent years central mixing plants have been established in nearly all large cities in which concrete is mixed, and from which it is transported to the places of its use.

' Ordinary dump trucks have been commonly used for such transportation. The disadvantage of such procedure is that it compels the manufacturer of ready mixed concrete to re- .stricthis product to stiff mixes; that is, a mix having a water content so low that it is un desirably harsh and not sufliciently plastic for satisfactory use. This is particularly detrimental when concrete is desired of a consistency permitting it to flow around reinforcing steel.

It is impossible to transport satisfactorily in an ordinary dump truck the wet concrete desired for many purposes, wet concrete bein that havin a water content suificientl t: b y

high as to produce a plastic and workable mixture. When the wet concrete is transported in ordinary. dump trucks the mixture segregates; thatis, the'coarse aggregate gravo0 itates to the bottom, while the grout, composed of sand, cement, and water rises above the coarse aggregate. hen the body of the truck is inclined to unload the concrete, the grout containing the most important ingredient, the cement, runs awayleaving a portion of the coarse aggregate, stone, slag, or gravel packed in the bottom of the truck. This effect necessitates the use of pointed tools, and great effort, in order to dislodge this packed aggregate. It also necessitates a reconditioning of the concrete, by an additional mixing operation, in order that the concrete may be in proper condition for pourmg.

The present invention prevents the stick ing of the coarse aggregateito the bottom of the truck, by dumping the load from a collapsible container to the bottom of the truck at the time the concrete is to be unloaded. Tests have shown that the weight of the coin 1928. Serial No. 292,689.

crete causes the mass to fall when the support of the collapsible container is removed.

Segregation occurs when concrete is transported in any kind of vehicle but by use of means capable of performing'a function similar to'that of the body described herein. This segregation is corrected when the mass is dropped from the collapsible container to the bottom of the truck. The grout, which has risen to the top during transportation of the wet concrete, is worked back into the mixture through the crater formed in the mass of concrete where it slides to the floor of the truck. When the truck body is inclined for dumping, and the concrete flows out, another remixing and reconditioning process takes place.

Another advantage of the presentinvention is that the truck body may be readily converted into a form for use in transporting such common materials as coal, coke, sand, gravel, and the like. This saves the purchaser from the expense of maintaining trucks for such general purposes in addition to trucks providing special equipment for the transportation of concrete.

The foregoing objects are obtained by use of the truck shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 205,588, filed July 14, 1927. A. special object of the present invention also is to provide a truck for concrete of the nature described in which the false sides constituting the concrete containing structure, or hopper, are so arranged that they open automatically under the weight of the material therein.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide strong and simple means for returning the sides to carrying position after the material therein has been dumped, and to provide means for retarding the separation of the sides under the weight of the material therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tailgate for the truck which acts as a chute for delivering material which has been deposited on the floor of the truck.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through the body of the truck of the present invention, show- Gil ing themembers of the concrete containing structure inraised or carrying position; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the body of the truck showing the elements of the concrete containing structure separated and moved into approximately vertical posie t-ion,t o deposit the material carried thereby on the true bottom of the body; Figure 3 is a plan view of the truck body, showing the ooncrete contaihing structureiri-its assembled or carrying position, and showing the tail gate raised to horizontal position, so that it.-

cooperates with the doors to'form a chute; Figure 4- is a rear elevation of the chassis and body of the truck, showing particularly the 3 doors and door operating :mean's ofthe body, ,meansator returning theplates which I form the concrete containingstructure to their raised or carrying position, and showingthe tail gate n dropped or vertical posrtlon; Figure =5-1s-a" slde elevation of the truck of the resentinvention-showin the bod arts of the: truck in carryingposition; Figure 6 is a :view' showing the chassis and associated.

parts-of :the truck' in side elevation, and the body of the truck in longitudinal section, illustrating-the dumping of material from the body; Figure? is a detail view,rin-.-front elevation,- of the means forlockin-g the plate members o f'the concretecontainingstrncture incarrying position and for controlling their movement into their outer discharging positiong'Figure 81s a detail view of the same elements, showing the same in side elevation Figure 9 is *aside elevation of the operating means-for moving the elements of the concrete containing structure into their carryng pos1t1on;F1gure-10 1s a rear elevation of theelements shown-inFigure 9; and Figure-11 1s a detall view of the sliding connection of the container-members with the up 7 rightin'iembe'rsoi the truck body. Inthe accompanying drawings the reference numeral 1 designates the chassis" and associated parts of atrues,- and the reference numeral 2 designatesthetrue bottom or floor of the truck body, which is arranged to he .supportedin horizontal position on the "members 5.

chassis orato be tilted into dumping position by any suitable means, those shown being designated generally by thereference numeral 3.

Attachedto the true'bo'ttomor floor 2 of the; body are frame members i, which may desirably-be braced by horizontally-entending The concrete retaining structure of thetruclr comprises primarily twoplates 6 and 7. Adjacent their upper edges, these pl-ates are; provided with channeled ribs 8 arranged to'embrace bearing members 9 secured ;to the-:upr'ights 45 and eiztending" inwardly of the trdck-:body.-

Adjacent, the lower edges :of the-plates 6 and-f7 are ,f'orkedbraclret's or bearings 10 in which-rollers 11- .rot'atably' mounted:

Pivotally mounted in other brackets 12, disposed adjacent thelower edges 01": the plates and having their pivotal centers 13 in longitudinal alignment with the centers of the rollers 11, are curved racks 14. The upper or smooth surface 15 of each of these racks is engaged by aflanged roll-16, which serves to guide the rack during its movement, and to keep its teeth in mesh with those of a pinion Eachset of pinions 17 isjmoun'tedon a longitudinallyextending shaft, two-of these shafts 18 and 19 extending along opposite ides ofthe tru'c'k'body and having their bearings in anglemembers 20 carried by the uprights 4. a

The-means for rotating theshaits 18 and'19 comprise 'a-lever 21 arrangedto act on the shaft 19 to rotate the same in either direction. Rotation of shaft 19 is. transmitted :to the 18 by means of abevel pinion 22-atthe 3 racks M te-move the sain'e from the position showhinFigure 2' ofthe drawings toxtheposition shown-in Figure 1- thereof. During this action the lower edges of theplates '6 and 7,

carried by the rollers 11 which r'un'on the true bottom 2 of the truck,1m0ve-inwar dly toward each other, until they meet adjacent the longitudinal con mi line of the truck. The-upper portions ofthe platesslide inwardly and downwardly by means 'of the engagement of channelmembers 8 witht-he bearings 9, so that-they move from the p'osi-tionshown in'F-igure'2to the position shown in Figure 1. It is found necessary to utilize'the lever 21 only instartingthis movement, as the weight of the "plates carriesthem' into position with increased velocity after themove'inent has been'linitiated. s

lVhenthe plates'are inthis'position to for-m a V-s-haped container, their forward and rearward edges abutstrips 5 and 5" which are attached respectively to arearward wall 4 and to a forward wall 4? of the truck body. These strips-prevent the ieakageofmaterifl past the forward edge of the plates,andthus in cold weather prevent freezing u'p' of plates to the forward and-irea-rw'ard wallsof the body.

Means forlocking the sidesor' ares of the containerin carrying'fposition coin 'jrisea brake 27 iikedtoithe :crossshaftQ l, and

h-av ingza'brake ban'd 28thereon: Br akeband 28- 18* connected by a pin 29 and togg-le withnaf locking: lever 31 which: cooperates with a ratchet bar 32. WVhen the brake band is locked in tightened position by means of the. locking lever 31 and ratchet bar 32, rotation of shaft 24, and consequently that of the closed by the rear wall 4, and by doors 33 and 34, WlliCll are hinged on the rear uprights 4'by means of hinge bars 37, and which close the space below the rear wall 4 The door 34 of the pair is provided with a vertical bar 35, which is arranged to overlap the door 33, and lock the same in position when the doors are closed. The lock for the door 34 comprises a lever 36, which is pivotally mounted in one of the hinge bars 37 of this door. Con nected with lever 36 are adjustable rods 38, which are pivotally connected with one leg of each of the bell crank hooks 39 and 40, which are pivoted'at 41 and 42 in'the hinge bars 37 of the door 34. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the bell crank 39 engages .in an orifice in a transverse angle member 43,

and the hook 40 engages in an orifice in a locking plate 44. In order to, unlock the doors,the lever 36 is swung outwardly, that is to the left in Figure 2, and thereby withdraws the hooks 39 and 40 from engagement. In restorlng the locking action, the lever is swung inwardly, and the hooks are forced outwardly into contact with the angle member 43 and plate 44 so that they register with and enter their locking orifices.

A'discharging platform 45 is hinged to the rearward cross beam 2 which supports the true floor 2 of the truck body. This platform 45 has on-its upper surface angularly disposed ribs or bars 46. Chains 47 are fastened to the frame work of the body at the rear thereof, and are provided with hooks arranged to engage the platform 45 when it is broughtinto a horizontal position.

In order to discharge a load of concrete from the truck, locking lever 31 is operated to release band 28 ofbrake 27 to the desired extent. I As this locking means is released the lower portions of the plates 6 and 7, riding on the rollers 11, separate, and move upwardly and outwardly until they come to rest in the position shown in Figure 2 0f the drawings. This action isproduced bythe weight of the material in the container, without the exertion of any mechanically applied separating force. During this action the concrete in the container falls to the floor or bottom 2 of the truck. During its delivery to the floor 2 the mass of material flows in upon itself, and is thoroughly agitated, thus distributing through the body of the coarser aggregate the grout which has gravitated to the surface of the mass. It is desirable that movement of the plates should not be too rapid, as a retarded movement produces a better remixing effect. The separating movement of the plates may be regulated by utilizing lever 31 to maintain some pressure of the brake band 28 on the brake 2T.

The platform 46, which may remain in its vertical position during the transporting of the material, is raised and supported in horizontal position by means of the chains 47.

The locking lever 36 on door 34 is then operated to release the doors. As the body of the truck is tilted into discharging position, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the weight of the concrete on the floor 2 forces the doors 33 and 34 outwardly until they rest against the angular-1y disposed stop bars 46. This forms a chute with a constricted opening for the final delivery of the concrete from the truckbody. Because of this constriction, which causes a crowding of the ma g terial being delivered, a final remixing action is obtained, so that the concrete as finally delivered has been thoroughly reconditioned,

and may be immediately used without fur ther remixing.

What I claim is: 1 1. In truck body construction the combination of a floor, and a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions'movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, and means for supporting the plate members on the floor during movement of the plate members.

2. In'truckbody construction the CO1T1bl ?:13

nation of a floor, a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, operable means for bringing the lower portions of said plates into mutual contact, and means carried by the plates arranged to contact the floor.

3. In truck body construction the combination of a floor, a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions niovably supported and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, means for maintaining the plates in contact, and rollers mounted on the plates and arranged to contact the floor.

4.'In truck body construction the combination of a floor, a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, operable means for bringing the lower portions of said plates into mutual contact, means for maintaining them in contact, and rollers mounted on the plates and arranged to contact the floor.

5. In truck body construction the combination of a floor, and a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions: arranged to be brought into mutual contact,said plates being so mounted that they may'separate under the weight of material in the: container formed by them, and rollers mounted. onthe plates and arranged-to contact the floor.

6. In truck body constructionthe'combination of a floor, acollapsible body comprising two plate members ha'vingtheir upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be-br-e'ughtinto mutual contact-,said plates being so mounted that theyma y separate under the weight of material in'the container formed by them,- and brakingzmeansfor preventing andaretarding se arating movementwof: the plate members.

In truck body constructionlthe combination of-a floor, acollapsible body comprising two p'late membershaving'their upper portions movably" supported and their lower por tions arranged to be brought into ,mutual -contact,- said plates being so mounted that r they separate-under the weight of ma;

.terial in the container formed by them, braking means for preventing and retarding separating movement of the platemembersand operable means-for bringingthe lower portions of said plates into mutualcontact j 8.;In truckbody construction the. combination of'afloor, a collapsible body comprislng twoplate members having their upper portion'smov-ablysupported and-their lower 7 portions arranged tobe brought into mutual I contact, said plates being so mountedthat nation ofia floor,a-collapsiblebody'compris ing two plate members having their upper they separateunder the weight of material inthe container for-medby theni,-mea1is for supporting the plate members on the'floor duringmovementof the plate members, and braking means for preventing retarding separatlngmovement of the plate members.

9, In truck body construction the combination of a floor, a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, said plates being so mounted that they separate under the'weight of material in the container formed by them, meansfor supporting the plate members on the floor during movement oftheplate members, brakingsmeans forpreventing and retarding separating. movement of the plate members, and" operable means for brin ing the lower portions ofsaid plates intomut ual contact s 10. In-truckbody construction the combiiportions movably supfported and? their lower portions arranged to 'be broughtlint'o mutual contact, and operable means comprising curved racks and operating pinions meshing therewith for bringingrthe lower portions of said' plates into mutual contact. 7 h

1 1i In truck: bodyconstruotion the 'combi nation ofa floor, a collapsible body comprising two. plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged to be broughtiinto mutual contact, operable means comprising curved racks and operating pinions meshing therewith for bringing the lower portions of said plates into mutual contact, and means for maintainingthe lower portions of the plate members in mutual contact. 7

12. Intruck body construction the combi- "nation of a floor, a collapsible body comprising two plate members having their upper portions movably supportedand their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact, operable'means comprising curved racks and operating pinionsmeshing therewith for bringing the lower portionsofsaid plates into mutual contact, and braking means for preventing and retarding separatingmovementof the plate members.

13. In truck body construction the combi-, nation of a floor, a collapsible body comprisingtwo'plate members having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portionsarranged tobe brought into mutual contact, a tail gate supported from said floor and having a stop member on the upper face thereof, and a door supported from said'floor and arranged to cooperate with said stop member to provide a delivery chute.

14. In truck body construction thecombination ofa floor, a collapsible body comprisingtwo platemembers having their upper portions movably supported and their lower portions arranged tobe brought into mutual contact, operable means for bringing the lower portions of said plates intomutual contail gate supported from the floor and having a stop member on the'upper face thereof, and a door supported from the floor and arranged to cooperate with said stop member to provide adelivery'chute. v v r In witness whereof, I hereunto set my j EDWARD N, JONES. 

